Combination display device



Feb. 4, 1941. a WAGNER Erm.

COMBINATION DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1939 Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION DISPLAY DEVICE Application December 18, 1939, Serial No. 309,774

7 Claims.

This invention relates to display signs of the general type disclosed, for example, in United States Patents Nos. 2,048,040 and 2,119,430, and is particularly concerned with a sign provided with uniform principal carrier means and with uniform auxiliary carrier means for supporting display elements and combinations of display elements of different size and shape in any desired combination.

A sign made in accordance with the disclosures contained in the above noted patents comprises a box or receptacle provided at one or more sides with a translucent display panel and carrier means extending horizontally across and in parallel with the panel for removably supporting display elements in front thereof. `These carrier means may be simple rods or the like, or channel-shaped members, depending on the` particular structure of the display elements. Illuminating means may be disposed within the box for the purpose of illuminating the panel. The display elements may have peripheral flanges provided with inclined notches for engagement with the horizontal rod-like supports, or they may be provided with lug-like top and bottom extensions for engagement with channel-shaped carrier supports. These elements may be arranged on the carrier supports so as to spell out or to convey a desired message appearing against the display panel in bold silhouette outline. The display panel may be made in one piece or in several sections, depending on the size of the sign, an example of the latter, sectionalized structure being described in the previously `noted Patent 2,119,430. Another embodiment of such a sign, that may be mentioned inthis brief re.

view of the prior art, is described in United States patent application, Serial No. 213,603, led June 14, 1938, showing a 'background or display plates horizontally disposed one above the other in a common plane, each strip being provided with anangular forwardly projecting Carrier ledge. The ledges are equally spaced from each other and constitute the carrier supports for the sign elements.

These prior signs are adapted to accommodate principal display elements, for example, letters or characters of dilerent size and height. The height of the smallest individual element is determined `by the distance between any two of the carrier supports. Considering only the letter structure provided with notches, and assuming the distance between the carrier mempanel which comprises a number of strips orbers to be, say 7 inches, it follows that the mounting notches in the letters or display elements must be spaced likewise. The overall height of the display elements exceeds this distance by a predetermined amount; that is, the overall height may be, for example, 8, 10 or 12 inches. Larger display elements measuring, for example, 16, 18 or 20 inches in height, may be made for support on any three adjacent horizontal carriers, and still larger elements measuring, for example, 24 inches, may be mounted on four such horizontal supports. The dimensions noted herein may or may not correspond to dimensions used in practice; they are merely mentioned for the purpose of description. The essential thing to be observed is that such a sign renders it permissible to mount thereon letters, characters, figures and the like, in short, principal individual sign elements of different size or height.

Such a sign may be standardized in its elements to some extent and is quite adaptable and versatile, inasmuch as it permits variation in the setup of messages using, for example, prominent individual capitals followed by smaller individual sign elements to form words or images This adaptability or flexibility, however, is limited by the necessity, in assembling messages, of using special combination sign elements, symbols or marks which require individual letters or characters of a size smaller than the smallest principal sign element that can be supported on two adjacent carrier members. Examples of such sign combinations, symbols or marks may be found in the Words to-for-in-out-onby-at-and-of-from and the like, also punctuation marks, symbols such as &-()-%- "e-!, etc., and numerous abbreviations as wel] as yornamental symbols or the like. There are many instances wghere such .elements must be made smaller than any principal letter in a given text, and other instances Where it would be very desirable to use an element of a size smaller than a letter or sign element forming part of the text or setup. Combinations and subcombinations Ythat may be formed are too numerous for even approximate listing. In any case, the ideal would be to furnish a sign that is as exible in its use as is a print, giving in fact unlimited possibilities for forming desirable text or image combinations for display.

The Vpresent invention realizes this concept by the provision of an auxiliary carrier device consisting of a simple frame that can be easily and removably mounted on the principal carrier supports, the frame being provided with intermediate carrier members for accommodating individual sign elements of an intermediate or small Size either alone or in any desired combination between or partly between any of the principal carrier supports of a sign.

The invention is described below with reference to 'the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 shows a display pia-nel with anernbcdiment of the auxiliary carrier attached thereto; and

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of va complete sign employing the auxiliary carrier shownin l, in the makeup or assemblage of--amessage The unit shown in Fig. 1 comprises the ldisplay panel II which may be of glass provided on two opposite sides with channel-shaped holders I2 and I3. These holders are interconnected bythe horizontally extending principal carrier supports I4 and I5. Each of the holders I2 andv I3 may be equipped with legs or bottom extensions IS and Il, respectively, in-order to hold the glass panel II. the opening of a-sign, one next to the other, with the carriers I4 and I5 forming substantially continuous horizontally extending lines across vthe Width oiA the display opening of a sign. A structure of this type is shown in the previously mentioned United States Patent No. 2,119,430. 'I'he holders I2 and I3, as well as the carriers I4 and I5 aresmall, compared with the entire surface of such a sectionalized display panel, and thereforey do not appear in any conspicuous or prominent manner that would obscure or detract from the display. Avmessage is assembled on such a sign by attaching letters or sign elements solely on and to the carrier supports or cross members I4 and I5. The height of the smallest individual sign element is determined by the space between the carriers I4 and I5, as described previously. If it is desired to use on a by providing an auxiliary carrier, comprising the upright members and 2I for removable attachment with the principal carriers I4 and I5 through the medium of suitable inclined notches. In case the sign structure is equipped with channel-shaped principal carriers, the uprights will "be simply placed therein; that is, the notches lmay thus be removably placed within the space between the principal carrier membersk I4 and I5 is not limited to two carriers as shown in the drawing, but will be determined by any given conditions to which the sign"mustvconfo'rm. It is understood that the auxiliary carrier may be of any desired width and, likewise, the uprights may be extended in either directionor in both directions, and may be vinterco`nmx'zted byV additional cross members disposed either beneaththe principal carrier 'I '5 or "above "the"principal'l carcarrier cross members. V`dicated by the numerals 3|, 32 and 33, and the Several such units may be aligned inrier I4, extending the possibility for mounting or combining symbols in any desired way or setup.

Referring to Fig. 2, numeral designates a receptacle or sign box having a frontal opening in which is assembled a display panel comprising a number of sections such as the one shown in Fig. 1. In theillustrated example there are three sectional panel divisions in the horizontal direction, each division comprising seven principal These divisions are incross members by numerals I4-I5, 26-21, and

.-23--29-.33 Itis understood that the sign may Y alsof-be subdivided vertically, within each division, if ite-should be so indicated by'its height. "For example, as shown in the drawing, a top sec- 'tion'I is provided equipped with the two carrier members I4 and I5, a similar center section equipped with carrier members 26--2I, and a bottom section equipped with the carrier membersff, 29 and 35. The divisional or sectional arrangement of the display panel is mentioned only for the sake of completeness; `it forms no essential part of the invention.

In assembling the sign, auxiliary carrier devices such as the one shown in" Fig. ,1, or modified as mentioned, may be placed on -any two or three, or in fact on any desired plurality of thel principal carrier members, at any desired place, or in any desired combination. For example, an auxiliary carrier device SII may be placed on the topline of the sign, comprising the principal carriers rIIi---I5, and individual small characters orv letters forming predetermined words may be` attached thereto. The combination"Flex word is shown mounted in this'in'stance, to furnish an example. The'rstprincipal word onthe top line lmay -c'a'll for a prominent capital letter S followe'dbya'numb'er of small letters. Inorder to obtain" the desired result, a'second auxiliary carrier'V frame 35 is attached to the principalcarriers I4 and 'I5 and the required'nuinber of Vletters are'mounted thereon, as'shown, so as toengage at the'bottom the carrier 'I5 and Aat Ythe top i an vauxiliary 'carrier member furnished by the auxiliary carrier device. Athird suclrauxiliary carrier device '36 is used for mounting the symbol -&. rIr'he letter L beinga capital letter o'f the second-principal word,A is -mounted independently ont-he car-riers I4 and I5, followed-by a number 'of .small letters supported in amanner similar to Athe small letters following S, :by means of an auxiliary carrier device 31. The

word for is assembled. as. shown,'by means. of

an auxiliary carrier38. The last wordin'this top line may comprise three letters each mounted like the letters S and L Similar instances of the .use of auxiliary carrier'frames 39 and 4i) are indicated in the second principal line which.

comprises the principal carriers EIS-and 21. The last line of the sign illustrates a fiuther instance of the use of an auxiliary carrier frame 4I and further illustrates the use of large capitals W-S-S supported on the -three principal carriers 28, 29 and 3G.

CII

The above description covers .only a relatively small number of combinations of .sign Velements that may be obtained by the useof this invention` It does not purport to and' cannot exhaust its possibilities. The vpreviously.mentioned advantages will be apparent .when it isY considered; first, that'the 'new structure eliminates all rigid sign sombinations; second, that it permits the efficient and'unhampered 'use'of each single limited possibilities for the display of sign combinations, symbols, etc., etc., that were heretofore entirely excluded from use. It may indeed be said that this invention constitutes an important link in the chain of development aiming at the creation of a sign as eilcient in the art of display as type and its modern use are in the art of printing.

What is considered new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent of the United States is pointed out in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, a background forming a display surface, cross bars constituting principal carriers mounted in front of said surface in relatively iixed relation thereto and extending substantially in parallel therewith, individual sign elements removably supported on said princi,- pal carriers, an auxiliary supporting device removably mounted on said principal carriers, said device comprising mounting members engaging said principal carriers, cross bars constituting auxiliary carriers connecting said mounting members, and individual sign elements removably supported on said auxiliary carriers.

2. 'Ihe combination dened in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary carriers are disposed substantially in parallel with and in the plane of said principal carriers.

3. In combination, a background forming a display surface, cross bars constituting principal carriers mounted in front of said surface in relatively nxed relation thereto and extending substantially in parallel therewith, individual sign elements removably supported on said principal carriers, an auxiliary supporting device removably mounted on said principal carriers, said device comprising mounting members engaging said' principal carriers, cross bars constituting auxiliary carriers connecting said mounting4 members, and individual sign elements removably supported jointly on said auxiliary and on said principal carriers.

4. In combination, a background forming a display surface, cross` bars constituting principal carriers mounted in front of said surface in relatively lixed relation thereto and extending substantially in parallel therewith, individual sign elements removably supported on said principal carriers, an auxiliary supporting device removably mounted on said principal carriers, said device comprising mounting members engaging said principal carriers, cross bars constituting auxiliary carriers connecting said mounting members, individual sign elements removably supported solely on said auxiliary carriers, and individual sign elements removably supported jointly on said principal and said auxiliary carriers.

5. In a sign structure, a display panel, a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced principal carrier members mounted in relatively lixed relation to said panel and disposed in parallel relation to each other in a substantially common plane extending across the panel in front thereof and substantially parallel thereto for removably supporting principal display elements, and an auxiliary supporting device comprising a plurality of auxiliary carrier members for insertion intermediate some of said principal carrier members for removably supporting auxiliary display elements, and means for removably supporting said auxiliary device on said principal carrier members.

6. In a structure for removably supporting against a common background a variable plurality of individua1 differently shaped display elements of different size, the combination of relatively xed supports with removable supports comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced relatively fixed principal carrier members disposed horizontally in front of said background in a common plane extending substantially parallel thereto for supporting individual principal display elements of a size exceeding the space between any two of said principal carrier members, means removably attached to some of said principal carrier members for supporting auxiliary display elements of a size smaller than the space between any two of said principal carrier members, said means comprising upright members for removable attachment to any two or more of said principal carrier members, and cross members connecting said upright members for removable individual attachment of said auxiliary displayelements intermediate of said principal carrier members.

7. In a structure for removably supporting against a common background a variable plurality of individual differently shaped display elements of different size, the combination of relatively xed supports with removable supports comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced relatively fixed principal carrier members disposed horizontally in front of said background in a common plane extending substantially parallel thereto for supporting individual principal display elements of a size exceeding the space between any two of said principal carrier members, means removably attached to some of said principal carrier members for supporting auxiliary display elements of a size smaller than the space between any two of said principal carrier members, said means cornprising upright membersy for removable attachment to any two or more of said principal carrier members, and cross members connecting said upright members intermediate of said principal carrier members for removably supporting said auxiliary display elements.

ERWIN WAGNER. WALTER S. WAGNER. RALPH J. JORDAN. 

